Advice for Writers: Checklists are your friend!

This week’s lesson is a little early and inspired by a great twitter chat called #writersroad. Check it out. The topic is checklists for your writing.

I’m a big believer in checklists. In fact, I think it’s important to create checklists even if you never use it again. Why? Because the process of creating a checklist is important. It requires you to think things through and pull out the common threads and recurring actions.

For a long time I struggled with my process. It changed with every book I wrote.

When I finally took a good hard look at the steps I took with each book I wrote I could see where I was efficient, which areas I always completed and I was able to develop a handy dandy checklist. Now I’m never left floundering, wondering where I should go from here.

Here’s an example of my writing process:

Write first chapter

Revise


Write chapters 2 & 3

Revise as necessary


Write to the middle

Revise (looking for story arc, plot, characterization, what makes the book special, habits, theme, a running joke that ties the story together.)


Finish the book.
Print off and revise.
Send to CPs and Betas. Send exit survey.

Revise.


Send to editor.
Do final edits.
Make Final Copy.

Make amazon, nook, smash, blank copy.
Make Review copy.
Make Contest copy.


Publish.

I could go on and on, but that’s a good start. Do you use checklists in your writing?